Jolene Wood

Jolene Rae Wood of Tracy, California, was called home to be with the Lord, on July 8, 2024, at the age of 66.

Jolene was born on February 24, 1958, to Mamie Belle Davis and Joseph E Wilson Sr. She was adored by her two older sisters, Rosemary and Karen, and their brother Joe Wilson Jr. was born a short time later.

 In 1962, Mamie married Jerry Maxwell, and soon two more sisters, Debi and Dena, completed this close-knit family. As a family they moved to different parts of Montana, but Jolene's heart was captured by the Flathead (Coram) and Glacier areas. She always enjoyed a trip to Glacier National Park with her family any time she could visit.

Jolene graduated from Park High School in 1976. In 1977 she attended BYU in Rexburg, Idaho. Education was very important to Jolene. She strived to be the best at everything she did. Returning to college, she graduated from Idaho State University, Boise, in 1998, with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology, Safety and Waste Management. 

In 1978, Jolene married Steve Hodges. They lived in Idaho Falls, ID, where Jolene worked at the Idaho National Laboratory. They had two sons, Clayton and Jeremy, and Jolene was completely devoted to them. 

In 1993, Jolene married Chris Wood in Idaho. They made their home in Tracy, California. Jolene attended Berkeley University in the Medical Administration field and also worked as a substitute teacher at Berkeley. In her later years she worked as a teacher and bookkeeper for a church. 

In 2009 Jolene embraced the role of becoming a grandmother. She welcomed a total of six grandchildren: Madison, Kayson, Chelsea, Charlotte, Kegan and Catherine. They were her world. She was a very doting and loving grandmother, always seizing any opportunity to be with them. Her favorite place to share time with them was Disneyland. We're sure it was a favorite of the grandchildren too! She was so proud of every one of them. 

Though she struggled with health issues in the last few years of her life, Jolene was known for her generosity and loving nature, always lending a helping hand when possible. She was a very strong, proud and independent woman with a heart of gold and family meant everything to her.

Jolene is survived by her husband, Chris; sons Clayton and Jeremy (Vynessa); six grandchildren; siblings Rose (Tad) Rosenberry of Columbia Falls, MT, Karen (Robert) Loucks of Billings, MT, Joe (Penny) Wilson Jr. of Lincoln, MT, Debi (Darrell) Hunting of Caldwell, ID, Dena (Richard) Curnow of Marana, AZ; step-sibling Jill Alberts (Tobias Trujillo) of Fernley, NV; stepmother Lora Maxwell; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews—too many to name but each one held a special place in her heart. 

Jolene was preceded in death by parents Mamie and Jerry Maxwell, Joe Wilson Sr., grandparents James and Mary Wilson, Arthur and Louisa Davis, Ethel and Jess Maxwell, sister Lynn Wilson, and several aunts and uncles. 

A celebration of Jolene’s life will be held at Franzen-Davis Funeral Home, 118 N 3rd Street, Livingston, MT, on July 22, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Fred Amborn officiating. Burial will be at the Mountain View Cemetery. A reception luncheon will follow at the American Legion, 112 N B Street.

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